J Wound Care. 2025 Jun 1;34(Sup6):S6-S14. doi: 10.12968/jowc.2025.0172. Epub 2025 Jun 3.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study examines a large dataset of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) usage from a multistate mobile wound care practice. The goal was to quantify: wounds imaged with NIRS; why providers used the technology; and how NIRS imaging impacted clinical decision-making. Healing rates were also compared to published data.
METHOD: Deidentified electronic medical record (EMR) data were extracted from Wound Care Plus, LLC, US between 1 April 2024 and 10 March 2025. The dataset was analysed for the total number of patients and wounds treated. NIRS was assessed for reason and impact of use. Healing rates were calculated for NIRS-imaged wounds.
RESULTS: The dataset identified 19,192 wounds from 6147 patients treated by numerous practitioners in 22 US states, with NIRS imaging used in 2165 patients (35%) and 4060 wounds (21%). The rationale for NIRS use included: microcirculation assessment and vascular referral (8.89%); debridement necessity and effectiveness (29.16%); tissue oxygenation trending (66.65%); and care plan evaluation (92.98%). The NIRS group included patients with skin changes, no improvement for >2 weeks, temperature variation, diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, venous disease, stroke, heart attack or vascular intervention. NIRS impacted medical decision-making and plan of care (PoC) changes including: palliative (5.22%); maintenance (20.76%); healable (17.39%); hospice (0.64%); additional studies (11.6%); vascular consultation or surgical referral (5.44%); and/or vascular studies (10%). The healing rate was 36.5% for pressure ulcers, 38.15% for lower extremity wounds and 39.68% for all wounds, compared to the published healing rate of 22.5%; this represents an improvement of 62%-76% in healing rates compared with the previously published rate.
CONCLUSION: This analysis demonstrated that providers used NIRS selectively, in cases of greatest clinical complexity or worsening, and that NIRS was beneficial to: monitoring tissue oxygenation (StO2; oxy- and deoxyhaemoglobin ratios); appropriate vascular referrals; and effective and efficient debridement. Modifications to the PoC based on NIRS imaging can provide improved healing rates while gaining efficiency and efficacy.
PMID:40504489 | DOI:10.12968/jowc.2025.0172
